Arcadia Conference December 22 1941 January 14 1942

“Arcadia” Conference – December 22, 1941 – January 14, 1942 • United Nations’ (26 nations) Declaration – January 1, 1942: Being convinced that complete victory over their enemies is essential to defend life, liberty, independence and religious freedom, and to preserve human rights and justice in their own lands as well as in other lands, and that they are now engaged in a common struggle against savage and brutal forces seeking to subjugate the world, declare: 1. Each Government pledges itself to employ its full resources, military or economic, against those members of the Tripartite Pact and its adherents with which such government is at war; 2. Each Government pledges itself to cooperate with the Governments signatory hereto and not to make a separate armistice or peace with the enemies.

“Arcadia” Conference – December 22, 1941 – January 14, 1942 • Why de Gaulle committee was not among the signatories? The case of Saint Pierre and Miquelon. • British and American military talks in Washington. • Adoption of the principle – Germany first. • Creation of the “Combined Chiefs of Staff Committee” with headquarters in Washington. • Operation “Gymnast”.

London Talks – April 8 -14, 1942 • Difficulties among the allies about the combined strategy. • American plan to land in Europe small forces in 1942 in case of Soviet collapse. • British objections to this plan and refusal to undertake any liability for it. • Decision to prepare for the large-scaled invasion in Europe in 1943.

Molotov’s Journey • Roosevelt’s invitation to Molotov. • Stalin’s decision to send Molotov first to London and then to Washington. • Talks between British and Soviet sides. • The British-Soviet Treaty of Alliance and its shaping. • Molotov’s talks in Washington with Roosevelt.

Molotov’s Journey • Roosevelt’s promise to open the Second Front in 1942. • The American-Soviet Communiqué and Roosevelt’s mistake – opening of the Second Front mentioned in official document. • Molotov’s second talks with British in London on his way from Washington. • Churchill in a complicated position. • The British-Soviet Communiqué and Churchill’s memorandum (Aide-Mémoire).

The Second Washington Conference – June 19 -25, 1942 • Americans’ failure to present any plan of invasion to Europe for 1942. • Churchill’s try to put the Northern African plan again. • Americans objection. • Combined Chiefs of Staff Committee rejects Churchill’s plan. • News about Tobruk surrender and its impact on the course of conference. • Decision to prepare as soon as possible the detailed plan for the invasion into Africa.

Decision to land troops in Northern Africa • London meeting – July 1942. • Churchill’s fear that American pressure would force him to forget about landing to Africa. • Americans thinking about the changing the main direction to Pacific. Roosevelt rejects this plan. • First phase of talks. • Roosevelt agrees on Northern African operation. • Decision to prepare for “Torch” – the codename for invasion in Northern Africa.

Churchill’s Visit to Moscow • Churchill’s decision to bring the news to Stalin. • First meeting. • Stalin’s anger about the “breaking of promise”. • Stalin about “Torch”. His approval of this operation. • Stalin changes his attitude on the second day. Pressure on Churchill again. • Private talks between two leaders. • The final agreements.